Benchmark Dacs at Bmc

Burwood Music Centre has been appointed the exclusive Victorian dealer for Benchmark Media Systems’ full range of products (and for some models, the exclusive Australian dealer). According to Benchmark Media Systems, which designs and manufactures all its products entirely in the USA, its new DAC2 digitalto-analogue converter has less noise, less distortion, and higher conversion accuracy than the DAC1. It also has more digital inputs (five total), more analogue inputs (two total) and more analog outputs (three total). It also incorporates new features, including front-panel read-outs of sample rate and word length, native DSD conversion, digital signal pass-through, switchable polarity, home theatre bypass, asynchronous USB 2.0 and driverless asynchronous USB 1.1. ‘ The DAC1 has become a reference standard in many of the finest recording studios and mastering rooms, but this new DAC2 defines a new reference,’ said Charles Lee, of Audiophile Reference Recordings, which partners Burwood Music Centre. ‘ It delivers outstanding musical detail and precise stereo imaging, thanks to advanced high-headroom digital filter design, a new high-sample-rate asynchronous USB audio interface and because all inputs are fully isolated from interface jitter by Benchmark’s new UltraLock2 jitter attenuation system.’

The DAC2 HGC incorporates Benchmark’s Hybrid Gain Control (HGC) system. ‘ HGC combines active analog gain control, passive lowimpedance attenuators, a 32-bit digital gain control, and a servo-driven volume control,’ Lee told Australian Hi-Fi Magazine. ‘ All inputs are controlled by the rotary volume control. Analog inputs are never converted to digital, and digital inputs never pass through an analog potentiometer. Digital inputs are precisely controlled in the 32-bit DSP system. The DSP system preserves precise left–right balance, and precise stereo imaging, while avoiding any source of noise and distortion. Benchmark’s unique passive output attenuators provide distortion-free gain reduction without reducing the dynamic range of the converter. The attenuators optimize the gain staging between the DAC2 and the power amplifier. Much of the success of the DAC1 converters can be attributed to the passive output attenuators. Musical details can be obscured by system noise whenever a preamplifier and power amplifier are improperly matched.’ The DAC2L and DAC2D retail for $2,140, the DAC2 DX for $2,600 and the DAC2 HGC for $2,550. For more information, contact Burwood Music Centre on (03) 8683 9910, or Audiophile Reference Recordings on (04) 2132 8366. www.audiophilereferencerecordings.com.au The Bluesound Node is a wireless streaming music player that connects all your digital music to any existing stereo system via either a spare digital or analogue input. According to Convoy, it supports all streaming music formats as well as all high-resolution digital formats. It retails for $649 (RRP). The Bluesound Powernode is a wireless streaming music player with a built-in 90-watt per channel Class-D stereo amplifier that uses patented, ‘DirectDigital’ Class-D topology. Like the Node, the Powernode supports all streaming music formats as well as all high-resolution digital formats. It retails for $999 (RRP). Bluesound’s Vault is a wireless streaming music player that includes a CD-ripper and a 1TB HDD, so it enables you to rip your entire CD collection to any lossless high resolution format without a computer while optionally simultaneously creating maximum-quality MP3 files for use on mobile devices. It retails for $1,499 (RRP). The Pulse is an all-in-one compact speaker system and wireless streamer that was designed by renowned speaker designer, Paul Barton. It partners two full-range 70mm aluminium-coned drivers with a 122mm bass driver. Each driver is powered by its own dedicated Class-D amplifier. ‘ The Pulse is custom-tuned for a 24-bit listening experience anywhere in the home, and is capable of clean 39Hz deep bass and crisp, shimmering highs,’ Matthews told Australian Hi-Fi Magazine. It retails for $999. Bluesound’s new Duo is a compact powered subwoofer/satellite speaker that uses Class-D amplifiers to drive a 203mm subwoofer and a pair of satellite speakers fitted with 100mm bass/ mid drivers and 25mm aluminium tweeters. It retails for $1,499 (RRP). For further information, please contact Convoy International on 1800 817 787 or visit www.convoy.com.au